Sheryl Crow and her fiance, seven-time Tour de France champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, announced their split on Friday. "After much thought and consideration, we have made a very tough decision to split up," the couple said in a joint statement. "We both have a deep love and respect for each other, and we ask that everyone respect our privacy during this very difficult time."

The two met at a charity event in October of 2003, and Armstrong proposed to Crow last August, while the couple was in Sun Valley, Idaho. It would have been Crow's first marriage and Armstrong's second. The cyclist has three children from a previous marriage.

Crow said last summer that the title track off her fifth studio album, Wildflower, was inspired by Armstrong and his kids. "It's kind of a reminder, particularly when you look at his young children, how they gravitate to goodness and to light," she said. "The idea of the song is that no matter how chaotic it is, wildflowers will still spring up in the middle of nowhere."

The rocker will continue her tour in support of Wildflower on February 28th in Austin, Texas.